Enter
Q&A
HUFFINGTON
07.22.12
one evil empire but I do think
that what we’re trying to push
back against is the institutions
that support the idea that you
have to have money or power to
have a voice in this democracy.
And what we believe in is that by
developing smart strategic campaigns we can raise the voices of
everyday people. We can make
their voices heard and just as
loudly and in just as powerful
ways as those that have millions
or billions of dollars.
You’ve talked about your family’s support for your activism, which has included your work with GLAAD. What was it
like coming out to your parents? I took
a while. I guess I say it’s a while
because I worked at GLAAD and
you hear kids coming out at 13
or 14 and you’re like “Whoa, like,
that’s impressive.” I was not there.
I came out when I was 22, 23,
somewhere around that. I think
that my parents had come to the
realization at that point. I didn’t
know what my support would look
like. I also knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, and I’m black and
now I’m going to be gay.
Do you see yourself as a black man first
or a gay man first? I wouldn’t even
know how to answer the question. I don’t see myself more as my
mother’s son first or my father’s
son first. I’m a whole person and
I’m all of these things and I don’t
think you can sort of take a piece
out without affecting the whole.
So that’s a silly question? I do think
that there’s a way in which folks
want to compartmentalize because
it’s easier. It’s easier to say that
this is this piece of me and this is
this piece of me. Part of being a
good leader is bringing your
whole self to the room.
Robinson
in New York
City.